Fall colors brilliant in Arkansas
Fall has arrived in Arkansas and the colors are superb. Here’s where to go right now to discover the splendor of this fall.
Northwest/North Central – Fall foliage is changing rapidly but still not at peak in the northern one-third of Arkansas, from the Buffalo National River north to the Missouri border. Eureka Springs reports 75% color this week with many hardwoods starting to turn. Fall foliage is near peak and glowing orange, yellow and red in the Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville areas with more changes expected during the next few days.
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In the Harrison area, the famous maples on the Downtown Square and at Maplewood Cemetery usually change early and they are at peak today. Arkansas 392 and Ark. 397, looping south of Harrison from Scenic 7 Byway to its intersection with U.S. 62/412 has good color today as well as Ark. 43 south to Ponca. Oaks, hickories and other varieties in the Ozark National Forest, from Harrison south on U.S. 65 and Scenic 7 Byway past Jasper and the Cliff House Inn, to around Pelsor are at 70% or more today; with more green, unchanged hardwoods from Pelsor to I-40.
On the Pig Trail (Ark. 23) foliage is spotty but changing quickly, with more color starting in Madison County and less south to I-40. Spotters in Bull Shoals and Mountain Home say there is moderate color, perhaps 70%. Further east, the Mountain View area has good color, with Ark. 5, 14 and 341 recommended. Predicted peak of color: Early November.
Central Arkansas/Ouachita Mountains – There is less color than in northern Arkansas but change is happening quickly in this area too. From Fort Smith to Little Rock, early-changing understory foliage such as sumac and dogwood trees are becoming colorful and maples are about 70% orange. Bradford Pears and other ornamentals are also starting to turn color. Oak, hickory and other varieties are starting to turn but will require several more days. Mount Magazine and Queen Wilhelmina State Parks are peaking this week with good color being reported.
In the Hot Springs area good color is also developing rapidly. Lake Ouachita State Park is reporting good color, with Ark. 192 and Scenic 7 Byway north recommended. In Little Rock, the maples around the River Market area are near peak with a vibrant orange-red color. Predicted peak of color: Early/Mid November.
Southern/Eastern Arkansas – Early changing understory varieties such as sumac, dogwood and gum trees are showing bright orange and gold. Our spotters in eastern Arkansas are reporting good spotty color on Ark. 1 north and south of Forrest City. Village Creek State Park reports spotty color with much more expected by the weekend of November 11-13. Helena-West Helena has early signs of color with more time needed. Hardwoods in the southern third of Arkansas will require several more days to peak. Predicted peak of color: Mid November.
Comments: We have a large thunderstorm passing through the state today with a cold front behind it that will cool down temperatures and accelerate color change. Hopefully the storm will not blow off very many leaves. Those who travel this weekend will find good color in the Ozarks, mixed with green hardwoods that need a few more days. Spotters in areas such as Fayetteville, Rogers and Eureka Springs report that their areas are colorful now but will likely be better by the middle of next week (November 2). Those attending the 29th Annual Bean Fest & Outhouse Races in Mountain View will see beautiful color.
Where and When to Go, Where to Find Information, What Roads to Take
Planning your fall colors tour
Each year, we look forward to the coming of fall. Even the most avid sun worshipers are now ready to dig out their long-sleeved shirts and begin planning driving tours and favorite outdoor activities around the changing of the leaves. But predicting fall color is no easier than forecasting the weather. Below are details of what is considered the norm for fall color in Arkansas – these are not predictions. Since the fall color season in Arkansas is an extremely popular travel month, we strongly suggest you make your reservations as soon as possible, especially if you are coming on a weekend.
To keep visitors informed regarding the progress of fall color, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has a network of color spotters in every region of the state each fall who have volunteered to supply weekly updates. This information is combined into one report, available by 5 p.m. Central Time each Thursday throughout the fall, so that everyone can make plans for the weekend. The reports describe foliage changes in these three regions: northwest/north central Arkansas (Ozarks), central Arkansas/Ouachita Mountains, and southern/eastern Arkansas. Specific areas and highways are identified when possible.
Traditional Peak Color Times in Arkansas
Arkansas fall foliage vacations should be planned around the peak color times of each region of the state. Generally, significant color change begins in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas in late September or early October. The trees in central Arkansas and the Ouachita mountain range of west central Arkansas are changing noticeably by early to mid-October. Southern and eastern Arkansas foliage usually begins changing during mid-October. Most people, however, are more interested in a fall colors tour during the “peak” of color. There is usually a period of a week or so when the fall foliage in a particular area is at its best. The peak may be for a large area of the forest, or different areas may peak at different times, even though they are close to each other, making it tricky to plan fall foliage vacations. Normally, the peak of color occurs around two or three weeks after color changes begin, meaning late October for the Ozarks, late October or early November for central and western Arkansas, and early to mid-November for the southern and eastern sections.
What signals can we watch for to indicate the beginning of the fall color season?
Look for splashes of red in your favorite area of green hardwoods. Here’s a short list of foliage that changes early in Arkansas, and the color(s) they are likely to display: blackgum (red), hickory (yellow), sassafras (red, orange, or yellow), sweetgum (red, yellow, or purple), red maple (red, yellow, or orange), dogwood (brownish red), poison ivy and poison oak (red), sumac (red), and buckeye (red).
Autumn in Arkansas is anything but one-dimensional with a bumper crop of fall festivals and special events, the flamboyant fall foliage, the harvest season, and the crisper, downward turn of temperatures. The most popular way to enjoy the splashy color of autumn in Arkansas is just to get out and do it on a fall colors tour. The color change begins in early October in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas…moves slowly to the south…until it reaches the peak of color in late October and early November. Yellows, reds, oranges, golds- even deep purple-overtake the maples, sumac, sweet gum, oak, sassafras, and hickory. The state has two-and-a-half million acres of national forests… the Ozark, the Ouachita (Wash-i-taw) and the St. Francis…where the beauty of the season shines.
AREA ONE: The Ozark Mountain region begins its color change at the end of September and early October, with the black gums taking on brilliant red tones. The peak usually occurs in late October.
AREA TWO: The Ouachitas and Arkansas River Valley take on color within a week or so following the Ozarks, beginning in early to mid-October. Early November is normally the peak time for this area.
AREA THREE: The Delta (east) and Gulf Coastal Plain (south) are usually transformed by early to mid-November.
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